Door-operating mechanism



Aug. 21, 1923.

A. B. STEWART DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM 1917 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 26 INVENT WITNESSES:

ATTORNEK Aug. 21, 1923.

1,465,695 A. B. STEWART DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed June 26 1917 4 Sheets-Shoot 2 fizmunvgoe 2 M Aug. 21, 1923. 1,465,695

A. a. STEWART DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed June 26 1917 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 mil/70H arm/4 M% JITTORNEYT,

Aug. 21, 1923.

A. B. STEWART DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed June 26 1917 4 Sheets-Shut 4 WITNESSES.- i

Patented Aug. 21, 1923.

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW B. STEWART. OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MECHANICAL PRODUCTS COMPANY. OF CHICAGO, ILLINOI S, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

DOOR-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Application filed June 26, 1917. Serial No. 176,987.

To all whom it may moment:

Be it. known that I. ANnnnw B. STEWART. a subject of the King of Great Britain. resid ing at Chicago. in the county of ("ook and State of Illinois. have invented certain new and useful improvements in Door-()perating' hlechanisms. of which the following is a specification.

This invention l'lltlits' to a motor driven apparatus for openin; amt closin; a door. gate. shutter. or similar closure member, the word door being: used throughout the following speciticat ion and claims to designate generically any movable ('lt). tll't of the gen eral type indicated,

The invention i applicable to single and double doors. whether they he hinged. slidahle horizontally or vertically. or Foldablc in sqtions. one section on the other. Illustratinp the application ot' the invention to practical use. a typical door construction will be shown. with this understanding that the invention is not, to he considered as limited to these particular constructions.

()ne of the principal objects of the inven tion is to provide motor driven means for opening and closing a door controllable from one or more ioints possibly remote from the door through the agency of momentarily energized control circuits by operation. for example. of push button circuit closers. the elements of said controlling mechanism being so constructed and ar ranged that the movement of the door in opening or closin; may he instantaneously arrested at any point and thereafter resumed either in the same or in the reverse direct ion. For cvamplc. with a plurality of sets of push button circuit closers arranged at ditl'erent points. which is the preferred arrangement. the openiu; or closing movement of the door may he initiated at one point. the movement. interrupted by operation of the push button of a set located in a ditt'erent place. the movement of the door resumed in either direction through the instrumentality of the appropriate push button of either of the first mentioned sets and that of the third set. it convenience or safety should make such control of the apparatus desirable from different places. The device is not dependent upon any specified numher of control sets: as mai scp-n'etc sets may be used as is necessary. Nor is the oper ation of the device dependent upon the location of the control sets.

The invention provides. furthermore. for the automatic stoppage of the motor when the door reaches the limit of its movement in either direction.

A further object of the invention is the mnstruction of the driving mechanism in such manner that the door or doors will be locked in any position in which their movement may be arrested. thus obviating the necessitv for locking the doors by means of a separate lock. In addition. the invention contemplates the provision of certain novel combinations ol devices for providin; the driving connection between the'lnotor and the door or doors opened and closed thereby.

The invention is illustrated in certain typical embodiments in the accompanying drawings. wherein Fig. l is an elevation of a vertically slidin; and swinging door with the operating cables or belts attached thereto;

Fig. 2. a side elevation. partly in section. showing the door and the winding drums together with the operating cables;

Fig. 3.'a detail view. partly in section. showing the connection of the elevating and lowering: cahles with the lower portion of the door:

Fig. 4 shows the conical shaped winding drums with the driving motor attached thereto and shows. diagrammatically. the

electric control circuits:

Figs. 5 and (3 illustrate. in plan and section. one Form of relay: and

Fig. T. a view. in perspective. of one of the door actuated circuit breakers.

(oi-responding: parts of the apparatus are indicated in the several figures of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings. the door shown at 1 is a vertically sliding and swinging door which assumes a substantially horizontal position above the door opening when the door is open. Although I have shown a door whi-h is intended to slide vertically. it is obvious that. the same arrangement of operating devices may be applied to a door which slides horizontally and assumes a position at substantially right angles to tho line of its closed position. 1 therefote do which guide the rnliers. T.

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not desire it) in lilnitril in a iiunr whirh slides vertically anii EiFbllIl'llS uiulantialiy horizznntal pnsitiun :iihiii tin innr npiliing. The lnwvr (.llil lil' lha (iHHI is. wanilainwi in IIIUVL in a vuriival iiirwl'inn hy liHLlnS ni lUllLIS 2 whirl] engagv iinth Kali ni' wrtii'al tracks 3 suppmteil in a \L'lihal pnniiinn in inenilars -1- [)ill!'((l tn the shim ni' tin iinnr (awning. Th1 lnwur (ml of the lllIOi' has a pivoted connwtinn with the IUlifllr? 2 as shnwn at 5. The upper ilil iii the clnnr IIIUVPS iH a horizontal iiirertiiiai nn trawl ii The 'inn! 1 pix-- ntallr LUllll((l(.tl at 5 in tin: Illi'k'llzlllllwlil inr moving the door along the) trari: (3. Thu (lOUI' is uperaturi iiy nn'ans ui' tiiv zll'lal'ujnlnvnt ni' pnlivys. raiih-a anii winding ill-mm shown in. Figs. 1.. and i. Tim inwm' null if the door in raised lillil. lnwvrr-ii in nwans of cables 9 and 11'! whirh rnii a rganii pill-- lays- 1]: pnsitinnml hnlnw tin. imwr 0nd oi the (1001. The cminmrtinn 01' the raiiiva .i and it) to the door is host, iiiustraimi in Fig. 3 which shows the pirnt ci'mncrtion 0f the (1001' 1. The cables 9 arnl ll) are secured tn a ring 12 mnvahly fastvnml to the dour.

This ranncction Inakra thu irahli-s 9 and iii, in eti'imt, a single, continnuns naiiie whilv pvrmitting a simple ainl durable ('UHUQPliUI] with the ilUUl. The raising (*ahios i) at. both sieies of the (1001' pass arnumi the pullvys 1; anti 14 :Ultl are secured t0' the small ends nt' thu miter spirally gronvwl winiiin; illillilS 15 so :15 to wind under the same (Fig. ii. The lowering strands it) at 110th shins of the iiunr pass around pulleys 11. i6 and 17 and arr secured to the large end hi the spirally grnnvwl Winding ilrmns 18 so as ilU winil mm the tops 0f the same. As shnwn whrn iizn rinur is in its; iowvrnil or 0105911 pnsitinn. the strands ii iii thv vlmating vahhrs are not \vnunri armunl the illiillh i5 hat the llIi'lH'lS in are Fully '(liinti.

i ilesire to he untlm'stnnii as using the "(ll'tl cable in its gi-iluriral svnsc, i. v. in inrlmlc any {lexihiv nlemvni rvgariilirss of its material or rroSS-svrtinnal mnliguraiiun whirl. accomplishes the same. l'i'hllii.

('aiilrs for mining (in) nppr-r t'llii of tin- (iUHI il}\\'tlllli and (Hit\\'2llilly arc iilUWIl ali i aml 2H. 'l hv htlllilll Iii ni' ihu nahln is so rnrwl in tiiv uppm' (ml of the l'lUUl at 2i am! pamwaa arnnmi iinpnlivy .212 inraii-il alarm thv iiunrwa). 'lhn Miami iii whirl] npi-ratuh tn iirau' iiw iliml' inwaiiily in nriinr tn upon il in swan-mi in tin iargu nnil ni' iiaspirally Ql'ilUYt'il winding ill'ilhl ill ami winiis maimlhn mine. while tho sil'anii 2i). whivh npur aim tn assist, in tinsillg thn liiHH' hy passing aruumi tin piziivy 22. is ritl'lil'i'ii tn Th0 small mnl of tha .-piraii r gamma-ii whaling iii'ain 24 11 in winli u\ 01 the zliliu llli. as hili) n in Fig. i is fully -\lliiiill arnlinii ihn :iruin wiun lhu iiuur is l'liiil The operation ni' tlm duur is easily undernull fruni the drain m1: alni ri-ianlwi (Hi iiming.

l al ie- QT aliiiltinnally passwi Hill liU

the door he completed. or. in case the move ment of the door was arrested, the comple tion to effect either resumption of that morcment in the same direction or a return of the door to its initial position. The convenience of this arrangement will be apparent. Suppose the door in question is a door of a public garage. lVhen a customer Wishes to drive his car out of the garage the attendant. by pushing the nearest door-opening push button. starts an opening movement of the door which requires no other at.- tention on his part. The motor is automatically stopped when the door reaches its open position or just before that by contact with the upper circuit breaking device \Vhen the door is to be closed, no re-setting of switches will he required; the nearest door-closing push button is pressed momentarily and the door closes. lt may he of great importance. to avoid accidents, for example. to immediately stop the closing movement of the door. This can be done by pressing any one of the stop push buttons. and finally any one of the closing or opening push buttons may be pressed after the door has been thus stopped for the purpose of continuing movement in either direction desired.

The controlling mechanism by which the. above stated operations are made possible is constructed as follows. reference being had particularly to Figs. 4. 5 and G. The push button sets are shown in Fig. 4 at 32. Each set comprises three push buttons; those marked 0 are push buttons which close the circuit when pressed for opening the door; those marked when pressed. close the circuit to close the door; the push but tons S normally maintain the circuit closed but. when pressed. open the circuit for stop ping the door in any position. Thcso push buttons operate to close auxiliary circuits for the purpose of energizing the solenoids 34. 35. (in-rent is obtained from any suitable source through the wires 36. 37. This current may be either alternating or direct current. The push buttons of each set are onnected in multiple. likewise the push buttons of each set. but the push buttons H of each set are connected in series so that.

the pressing of any one of them will break the entire auxiliary circuit. The circuit of etc. by means of the springs 5:2. 53. These springs are secured to the outer end of the rods ll. 45 and engage the supports 54. 55 at their inner ends. In order that the disks may fully contact with points 4G. 4?. etc.. they are n'iaintaincd in spaced relation by means of the springs 56. 57. The disks are loosely secured on the rods 44. 45 so that. by rotation. they may assume any position thereon. Their inward or outward movement is limited in each case by the pins :38. The disks are loosely mounted upon the rods 44-. 45. as stated above. so that they may present clean. surfaces of contact to the contact points. This is for the purpose of avoiding as much as possible the destructive action of the spark produced on opening the circuit by the inductive condition of the circuit.

Upon the cnergization of the solenoids the disks are drawn into contact with the inner pairs of contact points 5.). (it). etc. The solenoids are mounted on a suitable base so that they may be conveniently located with respect to the other door operating mechanism.

The operation of the electrical circuits is given as follows: Upon pressing the opeir ing button 0. for instance, the current passes along the wire 36 to the point Y, then along the wire 66 through the solenoid 3.3 and the wires (37. 69. The solenoid 34 being tic-energized, the circuit is established through the disk 4-0 to the wire 69 through the switch U to the wires Tl). T1. to the contact points (34. then through the wire 72. the upper limit switch 33. through all of the top switches in series to the wire 73. then through the line wire 37. This establishes a circuit through the solenoid 35 and. accordingly. the armature 3!) is drawn inwardly so that the disks -19. 43 make contact with the inner pairs oi points (in. G6. (33. (Ll. rcspecti vel y.

The excitation of solenoid 35 establishes two main circuits in parallel. the first circuit through the motor and the second circuit through the solenoid. the limit switches and the stop switches. The circuit through the motor is traced as follows: The current enters the wire as and enters the armature of the motor through the wire 74. The motor shown in Fig. i may be either an alternating current or direct current series motor. The current passes through the armature and out along the wire to the contact point it). then through the disk 41 which is in contact with the points 45%. 49. to the series ticld of the motor by means of the wire 76 and out through the wire 77 to the contact point (iii on the relay. The bar 452 being in contact with the point (if). 66. the circuit is established through the point. (i5, 66 along the wires 78. TS) to the binding post X and out through the line wire 37,

The operation of the establishment of this by applI' 'ing power to the winding drum shaft. he use of the operating mechanism to lock the door obviates the necessity of providing any other lock on the door. In fact, it is usual. in installing these devices, to remove the lock from the door. It a lock were necessary it would be objectionable because the doors could not be opened. in case they were locked. by the operation of a push button set remote from the door.

I claim:

1. In a sliding door. the combination of means for guiding one end of the door in the plane of the openin". means for guiding the other end of the door in a plane at an angle to the opening. a cable attached to the upper end of the door for imparting an initial opening movement in a direction away from the openin a cable attached to the other end of the door for imparting an opening movement to the end of the door to which it. is attached. and w nding drums to which said cables are attached adapted to vary the speed of each of said cables attached to the upper and lower ends respectively of the door whereb) the initial opening movement of the upper end of the door is faster than the initial opening movement of the lower end of the door. and whereby said cables will be maintained constantl taut while opening said door.

2. In a sliding door, the combination of means for guiding one end of the door in the plane of the opening. means for guiding the other end of the door in a plane at an angle to the opening. cables attached .to opposite endsof the door for imparting an initial anuular movement to the upper end of the door and for elevating the lower end thereof, respectively. and winding drums having conlcul surfaces on which said cables are wound. adapted to vary the speed of each of said ables onnected to the upper and lower ends of the door. respectively. so that the initial movement of the upper end of the door will be faster than the initial move ment of the lower end of the door during the opening movement, and whereby said cables will be maintained constantly taut.

In a sliding door, the combination of means for guiding the lower end of the door in the plane of the opening, means for guiding the upper end in a plane at an angle to the opening. a cable secured to the upper end for moving said end away and toward the opening. a cable secured to the other end. and operatively connected winding drum with which said cables are engaged adapted to vary the speed of each of r cables. -aid drums being so proportioned that send ables are kept constantly taut.

In a sliding door, the combination of means for guiding one end of the door in the plane of the opening. means for guiding the other end of the door in a plane at, an

angle to the opening, cables secured to the upper end of said door for imparting positive opening and closing movements to said end. cables secured to the lower end for imparting positive opening and closing movements to the lower end, winding drums with which said cables are engaged, means for imparting the same angular velocity to said drums. said drums being so proportioned that said cables are kept constantly taut.

5. In'a sliding door, the combination of means for guiding one end of the door in the plane of the opening, means for guiding the other end of the door in a plane at an angle to the. opening. cables secured to both ends of the door which impart positive movements to both of said ends during the. opening and closing of the door, and a winding drum shaft having winding drums thereon and with which said cables engage, said drums being so proportioned that. said cables remain constantly taut while operating said door.

G. In a sliding door. the combination of means for guiding one end of the door in the plane of the opening. means for guiding the other end of the door in a plane at an angle to the. opening. cables secured to both ends of the door for opening it. a winding drum shaft. and cone-shaped winding drums fixed on Stilt] shaft so as to operate in unison, the cable from one end of the door engaging, when the door is in a certain position, the small end of a drum. and the other cable engaging the large end of a drum. each cable 100 advancing toward the opposite end ol'dhe corresponding'drum when the door is operated whereby a variable positive movement is imparted to each end of said door.

7. In a sliding'door. the combination of 105 means for guiding one end of the door in the lane of the opening. means for guiding the. other end of the door in a plane at an angle to the opening,- opening and closing cables secured to the lower end of the door 110 for impartingpositive movement to raise and lower said end, an opening cable secured to the upper end of the door for imparting positive opening and closing movements to the said upper end. a winding drum shaft. and cone-shaped winding drums operated in unison thereon, the cables from one end of the door. when the door is closed, engaging the small ends of some of the drums, and the eablesfrom the other end of the 120 door engaging the large ends of other of said drums.

8. In a-sliding door, the combination of means for guiding one end of the door in the plane of the opening, means for guiding the other end of the door in a plane 'at an angle to the opening. opening and closlng cables secured to the lower end of the door for imparting positive movement to raise and lower said end, an opening and closing 

